Bhaichung uncertain

Calcutta: Mohun Bagan officials did not make it clear on Sunday if Bhaichung will be allowed to play the AFC Cup match against Al Karamah at the Howrah Stadium on Tuesday. Bhutia, who returned to the city late on Sunday, is yet to reply to the club’s showcause notice.

The club officials said that they expect a reply in the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Al Karamah coach Mohammed Kwid said on Sunday that they are not taking Mohun Bagan lightly despite the city giants’ poor run in the AFC Cup.

The green-and-maroon brigade have lost all the five matches they have played so far, conceding 15 goals, and are out of contention for the next stage. Even though the match is inconsequential for Mohun Bagan, a win would earn the Syrian side a last-16 berth.

“We have to win the match at any cost and we’ll give it our best shot. Only a win can take us through to the next round,” Kwid said, after the first practice session on Sunday.

“They have a very good, tactful coach. I believe he (Bencharifa) the national league (I-League) was his priority. So their performance in AFC has not been up to the mark.” Kwid said. “However, we cannot take them lightly. It’s a home match for them (Mohun Bagan) and as they have no chance of progressing to the next stage, the pressure will not be on them. We have to tread carefully.”

He said Mohun Bagan have three good players in Marcos Pereira, Lalkamal Bhowmick and Ishfaq Ahmed.

A-licence order creates a stir

While Bagan are sending Bencherifa to acquire the degree, Chirag coach revolts

A lot of issues need to be addressed before the Indian football set-up can turn professional. Two, among many others, are of utmost importance — having 16 teams in the I-League competition and a mandatory AFC A licence for all the coaches in I-League teams.

One issue will resolved by 2010-11 when the Indian national league will have 16 teams but the main area of concern is the lack of A licence holders among the coaches in Indian clubs.Among the 14 teams taking part in the I-League, only Stanley Rozario, Derrick Pereira, Ekendra Singh and Armando Colaco are A licence certified, which means the majority of teams don't meet this criterion.To accelerate the process of educating the coaches, AFC has sent letters to the clubs through All India Football Federation (AIFF), advising them to have A licence holder coaches from the coming season.

Leading outfits like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mahindra United, Dempo SC, Churchill Brothers and many others don't meet the criterion.Though AIFF has appealed to the Asian body to reconsider the decision, there has been no reply from the parent body yet.

But Mohun Bagan, it seems, have taken the advice seriously and have decided to send coach Karim Bencherifa for the A licence course conducted by the AFC in Singapore.

"Yes we have received a letter saying the coaches have to be A licence qualified and we will honour it," Mohun Bagan secretary Anjan Mitra told on Monday.

"We have started proceedings so that our coach gets the necessary certificates before taking charge for the 2009-10 season. We are sending (Karim) Bencherifa to Singapore for attaining A licence at the earliest," he added. Bencherifa is expected to leave on May 20 and the course will be held sometime in the first week of June.

But Chirag United coach and former Mohun Bagan player and coach Subrata Bhattacharya strongly opposed this move. "Why do I need any licence when I have played the game till a certain level and won two national league titles as coach?" an incensed Bhattacharya asked.

Bhattacharya, however, questioned the logic behind such a move which he said "is only for the third world countries". "It's just for an argument... If Franz Beckenbauer coaches any national side, does he need any licence?" he said. On whether he would now take the course if it becomes mandatory, Bhattacharya made it clear that he would have it his way. "We can hire a coach with the A licenses but I will do the coaching. Then I hope there won't be any technical problem," he quipped.

Sunil Chetri has decided to join Goa’s Dempo Sports for the coming season.

Chetri, who played for East Bengal in the 2008-09 season said: “My chances of playing for Dempo now is very high. Dempo are a very strong and balanced side and are known to be good paymasters. I am looking forward to play in Goa.”

Chetri said he also had an offer from Salgaocar. “I know Salgaocar are a good and reputed team and take a lot of care in building up their squad. But they have just been promoted to the I-League. It is not always fruitful to play for a new team.”

Dempo coach Armando Colaco admitted that the star goalgetter was close to signing for his team. “Since Chetri is coming, we may recruit only two foreigners. Apart from Chetri, we have Joaquim Abrahenches, who is playing very well.”

Chetri is currently in the capital to take part in the Delhi Santosh Trophy trials under the “son of the soil” rule of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

“I wasn’t training for one and half month due to the ankle injury I picked up against Mahindra United,” Chetri said.

East Bengal snap Subhash Singh, Harmanjot Khabra

East Bengal have made two notable signing in the last few days as they snapped up Air India’s Subhash Singh and Sporting Clube De Goa’s Harmanjot Khabra.


The Red and Gold’s who had another disappointing season on a trot are looking to build a young squad. Subhash Singh had a great season with Air India as he netted seven times for the Mumbai club.


The 19 year old had offers from Salgaocar SC and Pune FC but chose East Bengal as it was his dream move.


“Playing for East Bengal should be a great experience. I hope to do well there,” said the youngster who remain with the Kolkata giants for a year.," he said.


Meanwhile, Tata Football Academy (TFA) graduate Harmanjot Khabra, who virtually can play in at least five positions has also moved to East Bengal.


“I too had offers but East Bengal appealed to me. I have signed for two years,” said Khabra.

Kolkata derby in Durban

In The time of an Indian cricket carnival here, some football talk. Football officials in Durban are planning an event called the KwazuluBengal Cup and want to invite East Bengal and Mohun Bagan for the inaugural edition which will also have with six South African teams.

Sources in India confirmed the development but talks are still at a preliminary stage. The Kolkata giants have been sounded out and they have agreed in principle. The final dates are being worked on and formal invitations through the South African Football Association and the All India Football Federation are yet to be sent. As of now, mid-July to early-August is when the competition is being slotted.

According to local football officials, 2010 marks 150 years of the arrival of the first batch of indentured labourers in South Africa from India. “The first ship had left from Calcutta.

That's why we want to involve clubs from that city We also wish to make it an annual event,” said local football enthusiast Praneal Singh, who played a part in getting South African club Santos to play in the IFA Shield in Kolkata last year.

Singh added that before the first match, they also plan to have a match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

He said the South African clubs expected to take part in the proposed tournament are Amazulu, Golden Arrows, Thanda Royal Zulu, Maritzburg United, Wanderers and Durban Stag.

The first four play in the top tier of the South African league.

East Bengal and Mohun Bagan for club tournament in South Africa

Port Elizabeth: Come July, and Kolkata’s Big Two may get a flavour of some South African (SA) football. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan will be approached for the Kwa Zulu Bengal Cup, in which six other South African teams are likely to participate.

Informing this, Praneal Singh, who came as the manager of the Santos Club for the 2008 IFA Shield, said: “This will be the 150th year of the Indian settlement in South Africa. And the first ship that left from India towards South Africa was from Kolkata. That is why, we want to have the two Kolkata teams for this tournament.”

The other teams likely to participate in the tournament are Amazulu, Golden Arrows, Thanda Royal Zulu, Martizburg United, Wanderers and Durban Stars. “Among these, Amazulu, Thanda and Arrows play in the Premier Division of the South African Premier league. The other three play in first division. Some of the South African World Cuppers may also take part in the tournament,” Singh said.

The formal clearance from the South African Football Association for the tournament is still awaited and once that comes, the formal invitation to the clubs will be sent. Singh informed that if the tournament is a success, they will look to make it an annual event.

“We had the IFA XI playing in South Africa a few years back. It was a success and some of the clubs showed interest in Alvito D’Cunha as well. If this tournament happens, Indian players will get exposure in South Africa as well and we may see in the near future some of them playing in the leagues here as well,” Singh, one of the main organizers of the proposed tournament, added.